With food price hikes affecting all consumers and particularly the poor, it is crucial to understand the pricing when working out what measures can be taken -- and where the Competition Commission fits in. High food prices must be seen in the context of the liberalisation of agricultural markets in the mid-1990s and the expectation that with competition there would be greater efficiency and, ultimately, lower prices for consumers.

Tiger Brands is starting a company-wide review to ensure there is no more anti-competitive behaviour after cartels in the healthcare and bread and milling sectors were recently exposed, CEO Peter Matlare said on Friday. "We are cleaning house. We are going door-to-door and cupboard-to-cupboard," Matlare told reporters in Johannesburg.

The Competition Commission has referred three pharmaceutical companies to the Competition Tribunal for prosecution after they were found to be colluding when bidding for government tenders, it said on Monday. "Collusive behaviour would undoubtedly be one of the contributing factors to higher prices in healthcare," said competition commissioner Shan Ramburuth.

Tiger Brands has been ordered to pay a R98,7-million penalty by the Competition Commission after admitting to participating in bread and milling cartels, the commission announced on Monday. Tiger Brands also agreed to assist the commission in prosecuting remaining cartel members who have not cooperated with the commission.